Spring Tutorials

We've been so distracted with holidays, birthdays and wonderful family weddings that I haven't done much sewing. I have a few little knit bits to share--a really adorable baby hat for a new little one due any day, but I wanted to share some things on my "to do" list. You might love them too. bookshelf mini-quilt by don't call me betsy upcycled skirt from a men's shirt from Lex paper daffodils from alpha mom post from the writer of the long thread paper dogwood flowers from Martha Stewart table setting placemat from punkin patterns I feel like these are projects (except for the mama skirt) that my kiddos can helpme create. They can choose fabrics for the books, they can draw and fold the flowers and they can choose their fabrics and colors for their placemats. I know the list seems short, but I don't want to over promise and under deliver. We made these without any pattern--just circles and free-handed petals and pinwheels. Give it a try if you like! Happy spring!

Winter Banners

The weather people are forcasting a snowy winter in the Northwest. Who pretty snowflakes and lights that twinkle in the night? My kiddos and I made these little banners to welcome winter.

With two pieces of felt, scrap ric-rac, and felt stickers, these little banners came together easily.

The only sewing I did was to sew on the ric-rac which became the string for the lights. You could glue it on in advance and then let the kids get started. We're working on counting here, so they counted and sorted the different light stickers. We had 30 so they each got 15 (one pack from Joann's for $1.00). They divied up the colors that went best with their sensibilities and with their felt. Then they made their patterns. Once they had the designs ready, they pulled the adhesive and placed their lights along their strings.

I helped with the snowflakes because some of the felt stickers didn't cooperate with the intended die cut. Joann's has other stickers--gingerbread men and ladies, penguins, etc. You don't need kids to make this project fun. They would make great gifts for the holiday season, too!

Winter Pillow Cases

Winter pillow cases
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

What fun! Just in time for the snow in Seattle, my friend, Nancy, and I made pillow cases for our kiddos. She wanted to get it done last year, so I found a great tutorial. With my stash and what Nancy had, we made five cases while our youngest kiddos were at preshcool.

These would be great wrapping for larger gifts and were a happy surprise for the little people in our lives. Nancy is inspired to make them for other seasons, too.

Thanksgiving Crafting with kids

With scraps of cotton, some felt stickers, acrylic paint and a sharpie marker, we now have a banners to remind us and welcome friends as we approach Thanksgiving.

I simply hemmed the scraps and created casings for dowels. I found a font I liked, enlarged it and then traced the word "thankful" onto the scraps. The kids painted the letters. I love the spots where they are outside the lines. Once the paint was dry, they chose the pattern order of the stickers and placed them. I had fun, tracing the letters in the brown Sharpie, to make the words pop.

This will soon be fluttering on our door. Find a a scrap, a font you like and some felt stickers. Or find some leaves, make crayon rubbings through the fabric or find fall colored scraps and have the kiddos make patterns with those.

Thankful for my little helpers.

knit halter

knit halter
Originally uploaded by hmsohly

This little halter has served our Sugar Lump well. She wore it as a dress over a onesie as a toddler and now as a tunic as a bigger girl. I used this basic pattern: Katja and modified it to make it longer and add the eyelets and a-line. I knit the ties in garter rather than i-cord. Oh, I also knit it in the round, but you could easily seam it as the pattern suggests. It was asuper fun way to use up some stash scraps!

Hope you're enjoying your summer a busying your fingers with relaxing little projects.

Bubble Wands for Summer

I don't know about your kiddos, but mine love bubbles. The tiny wands that come in the bottles work just fine, but I thought these might be more fun. Granted, they don't fit into the bottles, but with a nice, deep bowl of soap water, these wands are both functional and whimsical.

Materials: Thin dowels cut to 12" for little kiddos and 18" for bigger ones and a heavier wire. You see copper on mine because I had it on hand, but any heavy wire would work.

Have your kiddos choose a shape and if they are big enough, let them create it. If not, you make it for them and anchor it to the dowel by tightly wrapping the wire and. Be sure to use a small pliers to turn any sharp ends into soft curves and then go play. The coils on the dowels must be tight or excited waving might have your shapes flying across the yard. If you like, score the dowels to better anchor the coils. Enjoy your bubbles in the sunshine.

Child's Party Hat Tutorial

Just thought your kiddos might enjoy an enduring party hat. I think the photos in the slideshow will lead you through the process nicely.

Materials:

Medallion Fabric and Letter Fabric

Base Hat Fabric

Stiff Felt

Fusible Webbing

Elastic

Sewing Machine

Iron
Needle and Thread


The link below is a flickr slideshow of the steps. Just haven't figured out how to imbed it here. I'll work on that.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24125250@N03/sets/72157616597415022/show/

1. You will cut the hat from a hat pattern. I could post one if that is helpful.

2. You will apply fusible webbing to the medallion, letter and the felt.

3. Decorate the base fabric with medallion and letter by ironing them fusible side down.

4. Machine applique.

5. Adhere base hat to felt with fusible and iron.

6. Cut opening for tab with rotary cutter.

7. Pin hat in place.

8. Thread elastic through side holes with large embroidery needle and tie elastic.

9. Sew hat together along tab and opening.

10. Party!

A Memory Game to Sew for Kids

My little guy loves to play memory with his daddy. They use playing cards. I've been trying to come up with some Christmas ideas for my kiddos and this one is great! If you want to make something lovely for your little one, this memory game seems perfect. The intructions are on a the Hallmark Magazine Blog and the photo above links to it. All you need is some of your favorite digital photos sized 2x2", printable fabric, some felt or flannel and a material you like for the backing. What a lovely gift--personal and keepsake. Happy Crafting!

Kid Birthday Ideas

Hmmm. This weekend, we have a double kid birthday party. . . a 4 year old girl and a 1 year old boy. Books are always on my list so that will be easy, but I'm plotting some crafty ideas for them, too. For the little girl, I was thinking of a mini-purse and a set of headbands or barrettes in some of her signature colors. For the little boy, I was thinking a softie toy, though I've never made one and I'm finding designing one without a pattern is quite a task. If any one has suggestions, please share them. I'm assuming bigger is easier, but I could be wrong. I'd like it to be no more than three or four pieces. First I thought a set of bean bags might be fun for him, but then when I saw my 1 year old discover her stuffed animals this week, I thought something of fleece might be fun for him. I'll get to work and share what I make and come up with for these little people.